Final answer:
Aldehydes can be selectively oxidized to carboxylic acids by using mild oxidizing agents that target the reactivity of the aldehyde functional group without affecting other functional groups. The oxidation of aldehydes is a result of their accessible carbonyl group at the end of the carbon chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
To selectively oxidize aldehydes in the presence of other functional groups, chemists often use mild oxidizing agents that specifically react with the aldehyde functional group. Aldehydes are particularly prone to oxidation because they bear a carbonyl group (C=O) at the end of a carbon chain that can be readily attacked. Oxidation of aldehydes typically results in the formation of carboxylic acids. While aldehydes are easily oxidized by oxygen in the air, in a laboratory setting, controlled oxidation can be achieved using agents such as silver(I) oxide or an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate under mild conditions which do not affect other functional groups like ketones. In contrast, ketones, which also contain carbonyl groups, are generally resistant to oxidation due to the lack of a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon, which is a requisite for the oxidation to carboxylic acids.
In the context of molecular structure, aldehydes can be derived from the oxidation of alcohols, whose hydroxyl groups are located on a terminal carbon atom of the carbon chain. The selectivity towards aldehydes' oxidation is further enhanced by using specific reagents and reaction conditions that target the reactivity of the aldehyde group compared to other functional groups present in the molecule.